Acerola Berry: Packed with Power

As most of us know, fruits are very good for us. They are healthy foods that we should all be eating on a daily basis. Fruits and vegetables contain nutrients that help fight and prevent diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc. And although most of us know about the health benefits of apples and bananas, there are a number of fruits available that must of us aren't aware of, and perhaps don't even have access to, that can do a world of good as far as our health is concerned. One of those unknown fruits, at least in this country, is Acerola.

Acerola is a fruit, a berry to be specific, that has some serious healing power. Acerola Berry can help strengthen the immune system, speed up the healing of wounds, prevent heart disease, and even protect your body against cancer. Unfortunately, the acerola berry is hard to find in the United States but is very popular in the West Indies, Puerto Rico, and other Carribean Islands. Acerola is very rich in vitamin C, which is one reason why it is so powerful in strengthening the immune system and fighting off diseases like heart disease and cancer. One berry contains 80 mgs of vitamin C, which is more than 100 percent of the daily amount you should get.

Many people in the Caribbean islands and even some places in Florida grow their own acerola, which can be eaten like grapes. Like grapes and most berries, acerola has a sweet taste to it. There is also a variety that has a more sour taste but is higher in vitamin C. This type of acerola berry is often found in jams, jellies, and juices. If you want to use the tart tasting acerola in your food be sure to use a lot of sugar to prevent your mouth from the tarty taste. You can also crush aerola and add it to your food. You can keep it fresh for months after you use it by putting it in a tight glass jar. Just be sure to check it occasionally for molded berries.

You can buy the acerola berries already processed in places like Puerto Rico but be careful if you put hot water on the berries. Hot water will reduce the amount of vitamin C in the berry by about half. If you want to make a tea or boil the berries, just double the amount of acerola when using hot water and that should help retain the desirable amount of vitamin C you will get from the berry. Remember, vitamin C is an essential source that helps improve and strengthen the immune system, which not only can cut down and stop colds and the flu but also fight other serious illness.